The current recession is impacting on most of us in many different ways but it seems our health is also being affected by the credit crunch.

Recession-hit shoppers are cutting back on fresh fruit and vegetables while buying more frozen pizzas and crisps to cut food bills.

Sales of fresh fruit and vegetables have fallen by eight and seven per cent respectively in the past year as prices rose by an average of 20 per cent, according to a recent survey.

In contrast, sales of frozen pizzas rose six per cent in the same period and crisps and snacks were up by 12 per cent, which is not good news. In terms of other effects of the credit crunch, like loss of employment, a bad diet is pretty unimportant.

But this could evolve into a real problem with a serious negative impact.

Unfortunately, a family’s food bill has increased quite substantially in the last year and so some can simply only afford cheaper foods – but frozen foods and snacks are just not good for you.

It can’t be right that a frozen pizza is cheaper than fresh vegetables and fruit but that has become the case.

We can’t afford to become a nation of fast food eaters but then again we can’t afford to eat healthily and so the sooner fresh food prices are reduced the better.